Grilled Chicken Packs

This is a super quick and easy recipe as we gear up for summertime. We love to grill out for the healthiness of it and for the ease of preparing a grilled meal. This super simple recipe was born out of using what I had left in the refrigerator and has since become a staple on the menu list. It's also a great way to use up any leftover pesto in the fridge (I talked about my love of pesto in this recipe.)

Another great thing about this recipe is it is great for camping! We love to go camping and I'm always looking for easy recipes to make over a campfire besides the general hash or soups/chilis. I've also found it hard to incorporate chicken recipes into camping, so I am thankful to have this one in my recipe box.

Grilled Chicken Packs

4 chicken breasts, thawed
salt and pepper
1/3 C pesto
1/2 onion, sliced
bell peppers


Trim the fat from your chicken breasts. Place toward the end of a long sheet of aluminum foil, leaving enough space to fold over the chicken fully one time.

Add a little bit of salt and pepper, or any other spices you like, to the chicken. Spoon a small amount of pesto on top of the chicken and spread so it covers the chicken in a thin layer. Top with onions and peppers.

Fold the foil around the chicken. Half way through wrapping, fold in the edges to create a better seal so the juices will not seep out while cooking. Continue to wrap until reaching the end. Fold over the edges one last time and press down firmly to minimize creating a large air bubble. See the folded packet below:

Grill on each side 10-15 minutes before flipping. I like to serve this with a baked potato, or you could do another type of vegetable.


What are some of your favorite summer grilling or camping recipes?

Cheesy Ham and Macaroni

This is a hearty warm dish that can also be a great use for leftover ham. I often remember my mom fixing mac and cheese on the side when we had ham for dinner, so this dish combines the two into a tasty casserole. This recipe is from my grandma.

Cheesy Ham and Macaroni

Yield: 8 servings

8 oz. macaroni
4 T butter
1/4 C flour
1/2 t salt
pepper
2 C milk
2 C shredded cheddar cheese
2 C cooked ham, diced
4 oz mushrooms (if desired)
1/2 C crushed crackers


Cook the macaroni according to package instructions. Drain well and set aside in pot.

In a large saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in flour as well as salt and pepper until smooth. Whisk in milk and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and add cheese. Heat until cheese is melted.

Add in ham and mushrooms if you are using them. Cook until ham is warmed.

Pour cheese and ham mixture over noodles and mix well. Pour into greased 9" x 13" baking dish. Top with crushed crackers - I've used Ritz or Keebler Club, just not saltines as you want the buttery taste.

Bake for 30 minutes at 350°.


I cut this recipe in half for the two of us for a meal and leftovers for lunch. I place it in an 8" x 8" pan and it works quite well. It also tastes great with steamed broccoli on the side for your veggie!

For this recipe I like to use a cheese block and shred the cheese myself. This makes it easier to melt and I think gives it a richer flavor than just a bag. Also, you get much more out of block of cheese than a bag of pre-shredded.

I'm thinking I might try and combine this recipe with my baked mac and cheese sauce recipe. I'm not sure yet as that may be a little more cheesier since it is for a side dish and for this main dish you want the meat to stand out a little bit more.

Indoor S'mores!

What do two Midwestern kids yearning for bonfire cookouts do on a rainy Southern night? - get out the blowtorch and make s'mores!

OK, so this isn't the safest idea in the world, but it served our purposes and made for some fun the other night. We set the blowtorch in the sink, so if it did fall over, it would still be contained. If you have pets or little ones around, be sure they are clear of the open flame!

These weren't as good as a bonfire s'more, but were definitely better than just microwaving the marshmallow. For me, that is almost sacrilegious! I'll get off my soapbox and let you be jealous of my ooey gooey goodness!

Have a great weekend and if you can, get outside and make a bonfire for me!